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How Important is Stealth Rock?

Stealth Rock is arguably one of the most impactful moves in competitive Pokémon, drastically altering the landscape of battles and significantly influencing team building. Its importance stems from its ability to consistently inflict damage upon any Pokémon switching into battle, creating a strategic advantage that can turn the tide of a match.

The Game-Changing Effect of Stealth Rock

Stealth Rock is a Rock-type entry hazard that deals damage upon a Pokémon switching into battle. The amount of damage inflicted depends on the switch-in Pokémon’s weakness to the Rock type. Pokémon that are 4x weak (like Volcarona and Articuno) take a staggering 50% damage, 2x weak (like Charizard and Dragonite) take 25%, neutral types take 12.5%, those that resist take 6.25%, and those 4x resistant (or immune, like Skarmory and Celesteela, if holding Air Balloon) take a mere 3.125% damage.

This seemingly simple mechanic creates a cascade of strategic implications. Firstly, it punishes teams reliant on frequent switching, a common tactic for scouting moves, pivoting momentum, and bringing in advantageous matchups. Secondly, it significantly impacts the viability of Pokémon with low HP or weaknesses to Rock, forcing players to consider item choices like Heavy-Duty Boots to negate the hazard altogether. Thirdly, it can create an advantageous situation for offensive teams, slowly chipping down the opponent’s Pokémon, paving the way for powerful sweepers to clean up later in the match. Stealth Rock’s persistent presence creates pressure, forcing the opponent to react and potentially make mistakes.

Strategic Implications of Stealth Rock

The presence of Stealth Rock profoundly impacts several key areas of Pokémon battling:

Team Building: Teams must account for Stealth Rock by including reliable setters, removers (defoggers or rapid spinners), and/or Pokémon that are immune to or resist the hazard.
Switching: The risk of taking substantial damage upon switching encourages players to predict their opponent’s moves and switch less frequently.
Item Choices: Heavy-Duty Boots are a common sight on teams aiming to avoid entry hazard damage, while other items that increase HP or defenses can also mitigate the impact.
Matchup Control: Stealth Rock can force unfavorable matchups, potentially crippling key Pokémon on the opposing team.
Late-Game Sweeping: By chipping away at the opponent’s health, Stealth Rock sets up late-game sweepers for success, allowing them to KO weakened Pokémon more easily.
Forcing Actions: Stealth Rock can force opponents to use Defog or Rapid Spin, allowing you to predict and potentially punish those moves.

The Art of Setting and Removing Stealth Rock

Successfully utilizing Stealth Rock requires both setting it up and removing it from your side of the field.

Setting Stealth Rock

Common Stealth Rock setters include:

Tanky Pokémon: These Pokémon can survive hits and reliably set up Stealth Rock. Examples include Garchomp, Hippowdon, and Ferrothorn.
Suicide Leads: These Pokémon are designed to set up Stealth Rock early in the match, often sacrificing themselves in the process. Examples include Azelf and Deoxys-S.
Offensive Pokémon: Some offensive Pokémon can set up Stealth Rock to disrupt the opponent’s strategy and capitalize on the added damage. Examples include Landorus-T and Heatran.

The timing of setting Stealth Rock is crucial. Setting it up early in the match can immediately put pressure on the opponent, while setting it up later can be a surprise tactic to punish predictable switching.

Removing Stealth Rock

Teams also need ways to remove Stealth Rock from their side of the field. The primary methods are:

Defog: Clears all entry hazards from both sides of the field.
Rapid Spin: Removes entry hazards from the user’s side of the field.
Magic Bounce: Reflects entry hazards back to the opponent’s side of the field. (Espeon or Hatterene)
Heavy-Duty Boots: Negates the damage caused by entry hazards.

Choosing the right hazard removal method depends on the team’s composition and strategy. Defog can be a good option for teams that need to clear multiple hazards, while Rapid Spin is more effective for teams that only need to remove Stealth Rock. Magic Bounce is a more passive hazard removal option that can punish opponents who rely heavily on hazards. Heavy-Duty Boots are an item choice that makes Pokemon immune to all hazards.

Why Stealth Rock is So Prevalent

The prevalence of Stealth Rock in competitive Pokémon stems from its consistency and versatility. Unlike other status conditions or entry hazards, Stealth Rock affects every Pokémon that switches in, making it a reliable way to chip away at the opponent’s health. It can be used on both offensive and defensive teams, making it a valuable tool for a wide range of strategies. Also, most of the competitive pokemon are weak against rock moves. This also contributed to the dominance of stealth rocks as a core strategy.

The Ever-Evolving Meta and Stealth Rock

As the Pokémon meta evolves, strategies for setting and removing Stealth Rock also adapt. New Pokémon and moves can change the landscape of hazard control, forcing players to constantly re-evaluate their team building and strategies. While Heavy-Duty Boots have reduced the immediate impact of Stealth Rock, its strategic significance remains undiminished. Stealth Rock is so good in the meta-game because it does not require the team to perform any other tasks other than the setting of rocks. Unlike weather teams or terrain teams, they require other aspects in order to work. The prevalence of stealth rocks has become one of the most dominant strategies within the game due to these factors.

FAQs About Stealth Rock

1. What Pokémon are completely immune to Stealth Rock damage?

Pokémon with the Ability Magic Guard (such as Clefable) are immune to entry hazard damage, including Stealth Rock. Furthermore, if a Flying-type Pokemon is holding an Air Balloon it will ignore the damage from Stealth Rock.

2. Does Stealth Rock affect Pokémon using Roost?

Yes, if a Flying-type Pokémon uses Roost and loses its Flying type, it will take Stealth Rock damage upon switching in, even if it resisted Rock before Roosting.

3. How does Stealth Rock interact with abilities like Levitate?

Pokémon with Levitate are immune to Ground-type moves, but they are not immune to Stealth Rock.

4. Can Stealth Rock critical hit?

No, Stealth Rock damage cannot critical hit.

5. How does Stealth Rock damage stack with other entry hazards?

Stealth Rock damage is applied independently of other entry hazards like Spikes, Toxic Spikes, and Sticky Web. All applicable hazards will deal damage upon switching in.

6. Does Stealth Rock damage stack with other forms of damage?

Yes, Stealth Rock damage stacks with other forms of damage, such as burns, poison, and Life Orb recoil.

7. Can a Pokémon use Haze to remove Stealth Rock?

No, Haze removes stat changes, not entry hazards.

8. Does Stealth Rock affect a Pokémon that uses U-Turn or Volt Switch?

Yes, the Pokémon switching in after a U-Turn or Volt Switch will take Stealth Rock damage.

9. What is the best way to prevent the opponent from setting up Stealth Rock?

Taunt can prevent opponents from using Stealth Rock. Powerful offensive pressure can also force opponents to prioritize attacking over setting up hazards.

10. How does Stealth Rock affect Pokémon with Sturdy or Focus Sash?

If a Pokémon with Sturdy or Focus Sash switches in with full HP, it will survive the first hit from Stealth Rock, even if it’s 4x weak. It needs to be at 1 HP before the Pokemon is switched out.

11. If I switch in a Pokémon with Heavy-Duty Boots and then lose the item, will I then take damage from Stealth Rock?

Yes, once the Heavy-Duty Boots are removed (via Knock Off, Trick, etc.), the Pokémon will immediately start taking damage from Stealth Rock upon switching in.

12. Does the move Magic Coat reflect Stealth Rock back to the opponent?

No, Magic Coat only reflects status moves. Stealth Rock is not a status move.

13. Does Stealth Rock damage apply if a Pokémon switches in due to a move like Whirlwind or Dragon Tail?

Yes, Stealth Rock damage applies regardless of how the Pokémon switches in.

14. Can the move Court Change switch Stealth Rock to the opponent’s side of the field?

Yes, the move Court Change is designed to exchange entry hazards, terrains, and screens with the opponent’s side of the field. This can be a very effective way to turn the tables and punish the opponent’s hazard strategy.

15. What is the best item to use to counter stealth rock?

Heavy-Duty Boots are the best item to counter stealth rocks. It completely nullifies entry hazard damage making them the definitive counter to stealth rock.

How important is stealth rocks?